The Unionist, Issue 76, May 4, 2007

Out @ Work was first off the mark in late April with their biennial Kamp, as the Council of Trade Unions biennial conference season arrives, writes the Unionist this week.  We also report on the end of the lockout in Auckland, and on the launch of stage three of the CTU's health and safety training.

Either read on, or you can download a printable version here (PDF file, 105 kb)

Out at Work Goes Kamping

Out @ Work was first off the mark in late April with their biennial Kamp, as the Council of Trade Unions biennial conference season arrives.

35 delegates gathered in Wainuiomata, out of Wellington, on April 19 and 20.

The Kamp was a mix of workshops, planning sessions and speakers, including MPs Tim Barnett, Maryan Street and Metiria Turei, Pacific public health expert Fuimaono Karl Pulotu Endemann, Roslyn Noonan and Jack Byrne from the Human Rights Commission, Nathan Brown from Out There and CTU secretary Carol Beaumont.

Kamp looked at the organising opportunities around queer workers, and spent time looking at the barriers and opportunities in developing networks in unions and within CTU structures.  There was strong support for the view that supporting rights of LGBTI, fa’afafine and takataapui are a fundamental concern of the trade union movement and are important to growing unionism.

The final session at Kamp set out an action plan for the coming two years (see side box, below).

Other biennial conferences are the Runanga hui this weekend, Women’s Council at the end of the month, and Youth Union Movement and Komiti Pasefika in August.

Details about all CTU representative structures and their biennial meetings are on the CTU website here: union.org.nz/about/representative.html

Out@Work Action Plan
- Promote gender safety, similar to cultural safety concept
- Support recommendations from the Human Rights Commission (HRC) transgender inquiry
- Work with the HRC to develop resources for ensuring transgender rights at work
- Endorse Montreal Declaration, which promotes LGBT rights
- NZCTU Out@Work delegation to Copenhagen Conference

Lockout Over

The lockout of over 50 EPMU members in Auckland is over, following a ratification meeting by the workers today.

Amcor Flexibles locked out the workers on Tuesday, after they refused to accept a collective agreement with mandatory flexible shift structures allowing the company to roster workers to work at any time or place within the plant, at the company’s discretion. 

On Wednesday, CTU president Ross Wilson reminded Amcor that New Zealand workers and communities didn’t tolerate this level of aggression from employers.

“All working New Zealanders know that this sort of bullying corporate behaviour is unfair and unacceptable.” 

“Last year when Progressive Enterprises tried it on with supply chain workers, they provoked an unprecedented level of action from working New Zealanders and their families and communities, support which quickly became international.”

Stage 3 Health & Safety Launches

The CTU is celebrating the launch of Stage Three Health and Safety Rep training during May with events in Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch and Dunedin, and a Wellington launch shortly after.

The CTU/ACC joint venture has been running for four years and has seen more than 15,000 reps trained.

The launches will have speakers from CTU, DoL and ACC, and the CTU is especially keen hear from reps who have completed the training.

See events listings below for details of the launches.

CTU Weekly Events Calendar

Unions Local

Unions Waikato
Thur May 3, 5.15pm
TUC, 34 Harwood Street, Hamilton
fiona.mcqueen@epmu.org.nz

Unions Waikato
Thur May 3, 5.15pm
TUC, 34 Harwood Street, Hamilton
fiona.mcqueen@epmu.org.nz

Unions Tauranga
Mon 14 May, 4pm.
Seafarers Centre, Hull Rd, Mt Maunganui. 
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Canterbury
Tues May 15th (AGM) – 7pm (note different time). Trade Union Centre, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch.
Karena.Brown@epmu.org.nz

Unions Auckland
Thur May 17th, 4pm
Trades Hall, 147 Gt Nth Rd.
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Unions Manawatu
Fri May 25 , 3pm.
PSA House, 41-47 King St,
Palmerston North
john.shennan@psa.org.nz

Unions Northland
Tue 29 May 2007, 5pm
TUC, 7 First Ave, Whangarei
gparsloe@seafarers.org.nz

Other Events and Campaigns

Ongoing throughout May: Human Rights Film Festival, Akld, Wgtn, ChCh.  Brochures in cafes around town, or
www.humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz

Unions Wellington
First Friday Drinks. The regular monthly get together. After work, Friday May 4th
Brix Bar,  Abel Tasman Hotel
Cnr.Willis & Dixon Streets

Manawatu May Day Cup
Regent Theatre, 7.30PM, Saturday 5 May, Plm North. Entry by Gold Coin Donation dmartin@nduunion.org.nz

May Day West Coast
Blackball Museum of Working Class History Trust and Unions West Coast Mayday celebrations, May 4-5, 2007. Contact Paul Maunder, Chairperson, on wkcultur@ihug.co.nz.  Full details and programme are online here: 
www.union.org.nz/event/MaydayBlackball07

Workers Education Association Forum
Sandy O’Neil, NZCTU trainer/Researcher
“Productivity Improvement - on whose terms?”
Monday 7th May 12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Centre for Global Action, 2nd Floor, James Smiths Bldg, cnr. Cuba St & Manners Mall
Wellington.  pbolster@anet.co.nz

Building Power for Social Justice ...
PSA House, Aurora Terrace, Wellington, Tuesday 8 May 2007, 4:00-6:30 pm.
A discussion to explore ways to advance the Social Justice agenda in New Zealand by encouraging dialogue amongst groups committed to that objective, for union members and officials, Community social service organisations and community activists, Academics and tertiary students, Tangata whenua.   Will feature an interactive panel discussion exploring aspects of the topic from the perspective of participants and the panellists: Carol Beaumont, CTU, Chris Eichbaum, VUW, Bill Hamilton, Human Rights Commission and David Hanna, Wesley Community Action
Contacts: Wellington Union Educator Network
June Hoddle: june.hoddle@psa.org.nz; Suzanne McNabb: suzanne.mcnabb@aus.ac.nz; Steve Farrow: sfarrow@ppta.org.nz

CTU Meetings and Training

Learning Reps Training, for IDEA Reps,
Wednesday/Thursday 9th & 10th May, 9am-4.30pm, EPMU Seminar Room, 298 Cashel St, Christchurch marym@nzctu.org.nz

Stage One: Partnership Programme Training-AUCKLAND 
This is an inter-union EREL approved one-day practical course for union delegates and H&S reps who are employed by companies who are in the ACC Partnership Programme (PP).  Union officials are also encouraged to attend.
23 May 2007, 9.00am to 4.00pm
Columbus Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby, Auckland. More info: robl@nzctu.org.nz

CTU-ACC Workshop: WELLINGTON
This is a two-day workshop for union officials involved in ACC policy and legislation and the Accredited Employers Partnership Programme (PP).   The purpose of the workshop is to inform CTU’s ACC policy in the lead-up to the next general election.
16th-17th May 2007, 9.00am to 4.00pm
Day One: RSA, Willis Street
Day Two: CTU Boardroom, 178 Willis Street, Wellington.  More info: robl@nzctu.org.nz

Learning Reps Training, for IDEA Reps
Tuesday/Wednesday 22nd & 23rd May, 9am-4.30pm, Meeting Room, NZCTU 7th Floor, Education House, 178 Willis St, Wellington marym@nzctu.org.nz

Learning Reps Training, for Rail & Port Workers Tuesday/Wednesday 29th & 30th May, 9am-4.30pm, venue to be confirmed, Timaru marym@nzctu.org.nz

Workplace Productivity Challenge: Exploring Workplace Productivity Issues. 
Please note that the planned workshops at Napier (18 April) and Hamilton (1 May) and Rotorua (29 May) have been postponed and have been re-scheduled to later dates as listed below. There is no charge to attend the Productivity Challenge, and some assistance is available for travel and other associated costs. Remaining seminars are as follows

Mon 7 May, 9 am – 4.30 pm
Methodist Centre, 62 London St, Hamilton,
EREL deadline 25 April
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by April 30

Wed 16 May, 9am-4.30pm
Barge Park Showgrounds, State Highway 14,
Manu, Whangarei EREL deadline May 2
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by May 9

Thurs 31 May, 9am-4.30pm
Willowhaven, 31 Beaumont Rd, Ngongotaha,
Rotorua EREL deadline 17 May
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by May 24

Tues 5 June, 9 am – 4.30 pm
Te Manawa Museum, Palmerston North, EREL
deadline 22 May
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by May 29

Thurs 7 June, 9 am – 4.30 pm
Trade Union Centre, 2 Lipton Place, Onekawa,
Napier, EREL deadline 24 May
sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by May 31

Tues 12June, 9 am – 4.30 pm
Invercargill, (venue t.b.c.), EREL deadline 29
May sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by June 5

Wed 13 June, 9 am – 4.30 pm
St Johns Hall, Wellington Central, EREL
deadline 30 May sandyo@nzctu.org.nz by June 6
More details and registration forms at: http://union.org.nz/workplaceproductivity.html

Stage Three Health and Safety Training Launches
An RSVP is required for all events, to Renee Habluetzel: reneeh@nzctu.org.nz.  For more info contact Renee or visit www.worksafereps.org.nz.

Thursday 10th May 5-7pm
University of Waikato
Academy of Performing Arts,Knighton Rd, Gate 2B, Hamilton

Monday 21st May 5-7pm
Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn
Auckland

Wednesday 16th May 5-7pm
Trade Union Centre,199 Armagh Street
Christchurch

Wednesday 30th May 5-7pm
Edgar Centre, Portsmouth Drive
Dunedin

A Wellington event will be announced shortly.

Contact
If you have any information about upcoming CTU events please contact:
Sam Huggard - (04) 802 3817, email: samh@nzctu.org.nz